Wine Grape: Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio)
Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio in Italy) is a grey mutation of Pinot Noir. Very similar to Pinot Noir, the biggest difference is in the color of the grapes, which range from pinkish-grey to bluish-grey. Sometimes the vines produce grapes ranging from green to grey to red, and even individual grapes can be multicolored. The vine closely resembles Pinot Noir and, even today, it's allowed in many Burgundian vineyards. But in France, Pinot Gris is best known in Alsace.
Like Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris is a mutation of Pinot Noir and was widely planted in Burgundy in the middle ages. In the 1820s, a winemaker from Piedmont introduced the grape in Italy. In the 21st century, plantings in Italy have caught up to and even surpassed those of Pinot Blanc (Pinot Bianco). In the Veneto, it's a popular grape with the local coops, where the high yields make for fairly generic wines. However, especially in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, skillful producers get great results. In Germany, Pinot Gris goes by Rulander for sweet wines and Grauburgunder for dry ones.
Pinot Gris is used in a wide range of wines, from still to sparkling, dry to late harvest.
Synonyms
Also known as Auvernat Gris, Borgogna Grigio, Burgunder Roter, Fauvet, Grauer Burgunder, Gris Cordelier, Malvoisie, Petit Gris, Pinot Beurot or Burot, Pinot Burton, Pinot Cendré, Pinot Grigio, Rülander, Tokay, Tokay d'Alsace, Tokayer
In Italy's Valle d'Aosta Pinot Grigio is known as Malvoisie, not to be confused with Malvasia.
Where
France: Alsace, Jura, Loire
Germany: Baden, Palatinate, Rheinhessen, Nahe
Italy: Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Piedmont, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto
Also: Argentina, Australia, Austria, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Switzerland, USA (California, Oregon)
Principal Wines
France: Alsace: Alsace AOC, Alsace Grand Cru AOC, Crémant d'Alsace AOC; Jura: Crémant du Jura AOC; Loire: Châteaumeillant AOC, Reuilly AOC, Touraine Noble Joué AOC
Italy: Emilia-Romagna: Colli Piacentini DOC, Colli di Parma DOC; Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC, Collio Goriziano or Collio DOC, Friuli-Isonzo or Isonzo del Friuli DOC, Friuli-Annia DOC, Friuli-Aquileia DOC, Friuli-Latisana DOC, Friuli-Grave DOC, Carso DOC; Lombardy: Garda DOC, Garda Colli Mantovani DOC, Oltrepo' Pavese DOC, Piedmont: Piemonte DOC; Trentino-Alto Adige: Trentino DOC, Valdadige/Etschtaler DOC, Alto Adige or dell'Alto Adige / Südtriol or Südtiroler DOC; Veneto: Arcole DOC, Breganze DOC, Vicenza DOC, Montello e Colli Asolani DOC, Piave or Vini del Piave DOC, Lison-Pramaggiore DOC
Characteristics
Color: Straw yellow with golded hues, or light rosé depending on the vinification
Nose: Fruity (apple, pear, lemon), Floral (honey), Mineral
Palate: Crisp, with good alcohol, softness and body
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